The dangerous pollution trends will affect 480 million people in central, east and north India, including New Delhi.
Delhi had the worst air to breathe with a massive 125 percent increase in nitrogen dioxide (NO2). (File photo)
As the world battles the threat of climate change and global warming, an Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report is ringing the warning bells for India. Air pollution will shorten the life expectancy of around 40 percent of Indians by more than nine years, the US research group said in a study.
The dangerous pollution trends will affect 480 million people in central, east and north India, including New Delhi. The Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) report at the University of Chicago notes, “Terrifyingly, India’s high levels of air pollution have expanded geographically over time.”
However, the goals of the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) have a chance of increasing the country’s overall life expectancy by 1.7 years and that of New Delhi by 3.1 years. The report praised the program and highlighted that NCAP aims to reduce pollution in the 102 hardest hit cities by 20 to 30 percent by 2024 by reducing industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust, strict rules on fuel and biomass burning as well as the dust reduction will be introduced environmental pollution. It will also bring better surveillance systems.
According to the report, the average global citizen loses 2.2 years of life in today’s air pollution If not acted in time, 17 billion years will be lost. According to the report, air pollution is more dangerous and life threatening than smoking, car accidents or HIV / AIDS.
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A map of India showing dangerous levels of air pollution. (Photo: AQLI)
The report also highlighted that if measures were taken to combat air pollution, people in India could achieve a life expectancy of 5.9 years, while in Bangladesh and Nepal they would be extended by 5.4 years and in Pakistan by 3.9 years.
Countries’ great reliance on fossil fuels such as coal for energy production is the main cause of emissions and increasing pollution.
The study builds on the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which has identified emissions and human activities as the main drivers of climate change and global warming. The report warned that the frequency of extreme events will increase in the coming years as environmental changes progress.
A report by Greenpeace India had previously painted a bleak picture from several states hardest hit by air pollution in India, despite the gradual lockdown of Covid-19, which reduced traffic-related emissions. Among eight state capitals, Delhi had the worst air to breathe with a massive 125 percent increase in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations in April 2021 compared to the corresponding month in 2020.
While the researchers took the weather changes into account, pollution would have increased 146 percent from 2020 if it had been more severe.
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